Wise Old Man
A role · 39 figures in all
The guide who bestows: the figure gives counsel, knowledge, a warning or the needed object, and the one who receives it goes on changed.
A role a story gives a figure, not a picture a figure fits. No reference work prints this as a headword, so the wording and the reading are both ours. What each was read from is not: the works named below, and their entries on these figures rather than the descriptions on this site. How this was made.
26 figures carry it. 13 others meet it without carrying it.
Carried by
Figures whose entries here read as carrying the role itself. Both readings marks a figure two independent readings placed here; one reading marks one.
Anito one reading
- Carol Rose, Spirits, Fairies, Leprechauns, and Goblins, s.v. "Anito."
- Damiana L. Eugenio, Philippine Folk Literature: The Myths.
- Maria Leach, editor, Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology, and Legend, s.v. "Anito."
Antero Vipunen one reading
- Carol Rose, Giants, Monsters, and Dragons, s.v. "Antero Vipunen."
- Maria Leach, editor, Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology, and Legend, s.v. "Antero Vipunen."
Apkallu both readings
- Carol Rose, Giants, Monsters, and Dragons, s.v. "Abgal."
- Carol Rose, Spirits, Fairies, Leprechauns, and Goblins, s.v. "Abgal."
Arawn one reading
- translated by Lady Charlotte Guest, The Mabinogion, p. 167.
- Katharine Briggs, An Encyclopedia of Fairies, s.v. "Arawn."
- Patricia Monaghan, The Encyclopedia of Celtic Mythology and Folklore, p. 22.
- Wirt Sikes, British Goblins.
Awl Man both readings
- Carol Rose, Spirits, Fairies, Leprechauns, and Goblins, s.v. "Awl Man."
- Maria Leach, editor, Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology, and Legend, s.v. "Awl Man."
Bai Ze both readings
- Toriyama Sekien, translated by Hiroko Yoda and Matt Alt, Japandemonium Illustrated, s.v. "Bai Ze."
- Theresa Bane, Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore, s.v. "Bai Ze."
Basajaun both readings
- Apollodorus, translated by J. G. Frazer, The Library, p. 413.
- Carol Rose, Giants, Monsters, and Dragons, s.v. "Basajaun."
- Carol Rose, Spirits, Fairies, Leprechauns, and Goblins, s.v. "Basajaun."
- George M. Eberhart, Mysterious Creatures: A Guide to Cryptozoology, s.v. "Basajaun."
Centaur one reading
- Carol Rose, Giants, Monsters, and Dragons, s.v. "Centaur."
- Theresa Bane, Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore, s.v. "Centaur."
- Timothy Gantz, Early Greek Myth, p. 21.
- Ad de Vries, Dictionary of Symbols and Imagery, s.v. "Centaur."
Cheiron both readings
- Carol Rose, Giants, Monsters, and Dragons, s.v. "Cheiron."
- Theresa Bane, Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore, s.v. "Cheiron."
- Timothy Gantz, Early Greek Myth, p. 43.
- Apollodorus, translated by J. G. Frazer, The Library, p. 1.
Christ both readings
- Ad de Vries, Dictionary of Symbols and Imagery, s.v. "Christ."
- Damiana L. Eugenio, Philippine Folk Literature: The Myths, p. 312.
- Firdausi, translated by Arthur George Warner and Edmond Warner, The Sháhnáma.
Dinny Mara both readings
- Carol Rose, Giants, Monsters, and Dragons, s.v. "Dinny Mara."
- Carol Rose, Spirits, Fairies, Leprechauns, and Goblins, s.v. "Dinny Mara."
- Katharine Briggs, An Encyclopedia of Fairies, s.v. "Dinny Mara."
- Theresa Bane, Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore, s.v. "Dinny Mara."
Dwarf one reading
- Ad de Vries, Dictionary of Symbols and Imagery, s.v. "Dwarf."
- J. C. Cooper, An Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Traditional Symbols, s.v. "Dwarf."
- Jeremy Black and Anthony Green, Gods, Demons and Symbols of Ancient Mesopotamia, s.v. "Dwarf."
- Theresa Bane, Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore, s.v. "Dwarf."
Gabriel one reading
- Ad de Vries, Dictionary of Symbols and Imagery, s.v. "Gabriel."
- Carol Rose, Spirits, Fairies, Leprechauns, and Goblins, s.v. "Gabriel."
- Damiana L. Eugenio, Philippine Folk Literature: The Myths.
Glooscap both readings
- Richard Erdoes and Alfonso Ortiz, editors, American Indian Myths and Legends.
Hatif both readings
- Carol Rose, Spirits, Fairies, Leprechauns, and Goblins, s.v. "Hatif."
- Robert Lebling, Legends of the Fire Spirits.
- Theresa Bane, Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore, s.v. "Hatif."
Jaculus one reading
- Theresa Bane, Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore, s.v. "Iaculi."
Kabandha both readings
- Carol Rose, Spirits, Fairies, Leprechauns, and Goblins, s.v. "Kabandha."
- John Dowson, A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology and Religion, s.v. "Kabandha."
- Theresa Bane, Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore, s.v. "Kabandha."
Karkadann one reading
- Theresa Bane, Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore, s.v. "Karkadan."
Kutkh one reading
- Maria Leach, editor, Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology, and Legend, s.v. "Big-Raven."
Salt Woman one reading
- Carol Rose, Spirits, Fairies, Leprechauns, and Goblins, s.v. "Salt Woman."
- Maria Leach, editor, Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology, and Legend, s.v. "Salt Woman."
- Richard Erdoes and Alfonso Ortiz, editors, American Indian Myths and Legends.
Silenus both readings
- Apollodorus, translated by J. G. Frazer, The Library, p. 7.
- Carol Rose, Giants, Monsters, and Dragons, s.v. "Silenus."
- Carol Rose, Spirits, Fairies, Leprechauns, and Goblins, s.v. "Silenus."
- George M. Eberhart, Mysterious Creatures: A Guide to Cryptozoology, s.v. "Silenus."
- Theresa Bane, Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore, s.v. "Silenus."
Simurgh both readings
- Theresa Bane, Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore, s.v. "Saena."
- Carol Rose, Giants, Monsters, and Dragons, s.v. "Saena."
- Firdausi, translated by Arthur George Warner and Edmond Warner, The Sháhnáma.
Sinlap both readings
- Carol Rose, Spirits, Fairies, Leprechauns, and Goblins, s.v. "Sinlap."
- Theresa Bane, Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore, s.v. "Sinlap."
Tengu both readings
- Carol Rose, Giants, Monsters, and Dragons, s.v. "Tengu."
- Carol Rose, Spirits, Fairies, Leprechauns, and Goblins, s.v. "Tengu."
- F. Hadland Davis, Myths and Legends of Japan, p. 40.
- George M. Eberhart, Mysterious Creatures: A Guide to Cryptozoology, s.v. "Tengu."
Vetala one reading
- Carol Rose, Spirits, Fairies, Leprechauns, and Goblins, s.v. "Vetala."
- John Dowson, A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology and Religion, s.v. "Vetala."
- Maria Leach, editor, Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology, and Legend, s.v. "Vetala."
- Theresa Bane, Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore, s.v. "Vetala."
Met by
Figures read as meeting the role rather than carrying it: it is in their stories, held by something they meet, oppose, serve or are destroyed by. It is the commoner reading here, and saying so is the point: a bestiary is largely a catalogue of what the carriers of these roles encounter.
Ahriman
- Firdausi, translated by Arthur George Warner and Edmond Warner, The Sháhnáma.
Alberich
- Carol Rose, Spirits, Fairies, Leprechauns, and Goblins, s.v. "Alberich."
- Maria Leach, editor, Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology, and Legend, s.v. "Alberich."
Aswang
- Damiana L. Eugenio, Philippine Folk Literature: The Myths, p. 1978.
Graeae
- Carol Rose, Giants, Monsters, and Dragons, s.v. "Graeae."
- Theresa Bane, Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore, s.v. "Graeae."
Kodama
- Michael Dylan Foster, The Book of Yōkai, s.v. "Kodama."
- Toriyama Sekien, translated by Hiroko Yoda and Matt Alt, Japandemonium Illustrated, s.v. "Kodama."
Kolowisi
- Carol Rose, Giants, Monsters, and Dragons, s.v. "Kolowisi."
- George M. Eberhart, Mysterious Creatures: A Guide to Cryptozoology, s.v. "Kolowisi."
- Richard Erdoes and Alfonso Ortiz, editors, American Indian Myths and Legends.
Lambton Worm
- Carol Rose, Giants, Monsters, and Dragons, s.v. "Lambton Worm."
- Katharine Briggs, An Encyclopedia of Fairies, s.v. "Lambton Worm."
- Patricia Monaghan, The Encyclopedia of Celtic Mythology and Folklore, p. 280.
- Theresa Bane, Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore, s.v. "Lambton Worm."
- William Henderson, Notes on the Folk-Lore of the Northern Counties of England and the Borders, p. 281.
Louhi
- Carol Rose, Giants, Monsters, and Dragons, s.v. "Louhi."
- translated by John Martin Crawford, The Kalevala, p. 84.
Maira
- John Bierhorst, The Mythology of South America, p. 28.
- K. Langloh Parker, Australian Legendary Tales.
Nāga
- John Dowson, A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology and Religion, s.v. "Naga."
- Maria Leach, editor, Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology, and Legend, s.v. "Naga."
- Theresa Bane, Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore, s.v. "Naga."
Otso
- translated by John Martin Crawford, The Kalevala, p. 508.
Peluda
- Carol Rose, Giants, Monsters, and Dragons, s.v. "Peluda."
- Theresa Bane, Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore, s.v. "Peluda."
Sphinx
- George M. Eberhart, Mysterious Creatures: A Guide to Cryptozoology, s.v. "Sphinx."
- Geraldine Pinch, Egyptian Mythology, p. 206.
- Hesiod, translated by Hugh G. Evelyn-White, Hesiod, the Homeric Hymns and Homerica, p. 9.
Not to be confused with: NOT merely being ancient, primordial, or long-lived.